Refrigerator tray loosening means



L. s. cHADwicK 2,162,244

REFRIGERATOR TRAY LOOSENING MEANS June 13,. 1939.

Filed March 12, 1935 W, A J; 4

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED, STAT S PATENT" OFFICE z,1os,z44

Lee S'. Chadwick, Shaker'lleights, Ohio, assignor to Perfection Stove Company, Cleveland, Ohio, v

a corporation of Ohio In the use of domestic refrigerating apparatus it is usually quite diilicult to remove thetrays in which ice cubes are frozen, desserts chilled, or other substances kept at sub-freezing temperatures, from the freezing chambers because the parts become frozen together, so to speak.

It is the purposeof this invention to provide a simple and inexpensive yet very eflective and easily operated means for loosening or dislodging the trays.

v According to the present preferred embodiment of the invention this means consists of a detached member disposed beneath the tray and having a reater transverse than, vertical dimension and i being provided with an' operating handle' by means of which it maybe tilted or rockedso as to lift the tray and thus loosen it.

In order to maintain the maximum area of coni tact between the bottom walls of the tray and 1 chamber for heat transfer purposes, the bottomwall of the chamber is provided with-a depres-' depression is of a depth at least as great as the vertical dimension of the member. An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing and-while I .shall proceed to, describe the same in detaiL-it will be: understood that the invention is not the structural features set out in the specification further than isrequired by the terms of the claim annexed hereto. I In the drawing, Fig- 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a refrigerating apparatus, including the freezing chamber and trays, equipped with the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view of the member by whicha tray is lifted; Fig.- 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through the freezing chamber. and tray in the vertical plane of the lifting member, and Fig. 4 is a front elevation,

o partly in section, the plane of sectionbeing indicated by the line H of Fig. 3.

v A typical cooling unit or evaporator of,a refrigerating apparatus is shown in the drawing.

the same being designated l, and it fountains a freezing chamber 2. One or more adapted to be placed within the chamber 2, the.

P rpose for-which the trays are to be used determining their size and proportions, and these factors, inturmdetermine the number of 5 1 can be accommodated. In the present tion, two. trays-3 are shown-oi the kind used for 1 .making ice cubes, and accordinsly m are fltt'ed withtheusual artitionsl. fniebottom wall of the freezing chamber 2 is 5 provided with elongated, depressions s that open, at their forward ends through the open front of the chamber and accommodate the body portions 6 of members I by which the trays 3 are adapted to be lifted. The body portions 8 are generally semi-cylindrical, having well 5 rounded edges, and correspond in depth with .the recesses I, so that when occupying said re-cesses their top surfaces are practically flush with the bottom wall of the freezing chamber. Operating wall of the freezing chamber, all parts being covered more or less with a coating of frost, and when itis desired to remove a tray, the handle 8.

. of the corresponding member I is swung to one 2 aside or the other, thereby to rock the body portion for the accommodation of the member which tion 8' and lift the tray, thus breaking it loose from the wall of the chamber 2. The member 1 is then'withdrawn from the depression 5 and laid aside. after which,'by means of its handle 9, the

"tray may he slid out of the freezing chamber.

Before replacing the tray, the member I is returned to-its former pomtion' and inasmuch as its top surface is substantially flush with the bottom wall of the chamber, it offers no'interference with 30 the insertion 'of the tray.

shapes so-long as that selected will have the efbottom wall having an elongated substantially semi-cylindrical depression that opens outwardly through the open front of the chamber. and-a member having a substantially semi-cylindrical body P r on occupying said depression and 'a .weighted handle depending from its end beyond the open front'of: the chamber. said weighted han- ,0

die serving to normally retain the member in positionwiththe top face of its body portion 1 a substantially horizontal Diane.

' nan s. cmm'wrcm 

